New Plymouth advantage for digital business

New Plymouth advantage for digital business

New Plymouth woman Corinne Davies was concerned SiteSmart, a digital marketing and web development agency she founded in Wellington, would struggle to survive after she returned to her hometown in 2011.

Four years after coming back to New Plymouth with her 11 month-old daughter however, the company has thrived with a strong lineup of national clients such as Carpet Court, the Flooring Brands Group, Mitsubishi Electric, and Victoria University of Wellington.

www.sitesmart.co.nz is now in the process of launching a complementary service, Smart Digital, to focus on interpreting big data for their clients to gain a digital advantage.

The company was recently profiled in a Fairfax business article which highlighted the advantages of basing her business in a smaller regional centre.

“For me, returning to New Plymouth was a decision made entirely for personal reasons - finding myself widowed at 29 with an 11 month old daughter, I craved the family, friends, and lifestyle that New Plymouth offered. It felt like a real safe haven to return home to. What I didn't expect was that running a business in New Plymouth - especially one working with clients and staff remotely, would be so straightforward.

“The New Plymouth market was already saturated with excellent web design companies. It was never going to be an option for me to try to squeeze in another web design and development business and remain viable.

“So I took what felt like a very big risk and invested in setting up SiteSmart NZ: an entirely digital business using a remote working model. We use cloud based technology for everything - as well as the good old mobile phone and email. It really paid off. We have tripled our client base since. Now our team is located all over NZ, and so are our clients. Wellington and Auckland still make up 80% of our client base, with the remaining 20% located throughout all corners of NZ.

“New Plymouth is full of interesting and interested business people from a huge range of industries - there is a really supportive and talented entrepreneurial community here. The local economic development agency - Venture Taranaki - has excellent advice and programmes in place to encourage business development and help you find the right people to work with.

“ Our clients also like the idea that we are based in a regional centre. It seems to add a degree of authenticity and trust. A few of the larger agencies come across as sales portals that outsource to other countries, whereas we’re here in Taranaki and they can identify with us.”

“Compared with a big city, it is an extremely cost effective place to be located, and the lifestyle benefits are priceless. It’s great for kids as well which is a big priority.”

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